Supporting rack



Ap 1949. F. V. SMOLDEREN E1- AL l 2,467,866

SUPPORTING RACKS Filed June 5, 1945 Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A IiL I INVENTQRS BY & John P Cody M,M+M

ATTORNEYS April 19, 1949- F; v. SMOLDEREN ETAL I 2,467,866

SUPPORTING RACKS Filed June 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS Ferdinand VJmo/deren 193 6 BY 4 Jb/mP Cody v M, KWH M4,"

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1949 SUPPORTING RACK Ferdinand V. Smolderen, Mount Vernon, N. Y.,

and John P. Cody, Bernardsville, N. J assignors to Refined Syrups & Sugars, Inc., Yonkers, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 5, 1945, Serial No. 597,640 9 Claims. (01. 248136) This invention relates to foldable stands or racks provided with a cradle or frame to receive a container, the frame or cradle being tiltable for thepurpose of pouring from the container. In such racks or stands it is desirable that provision be made for readily removing the container for replacement or refilling, and that provision be made for the convenient support of a receptacle into which the contents of the container may be poured.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved foldable rack having a mounting for tiltably supporting a container and having a shelf for supporting a receptacle into which the contents of the container may be poured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack permitting the tilting of a container supported thereby without danger of accidental displacement or falling of the container from the rack during the operation of pouring therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a support or rack for tiltably supporting a container, with means for intercepting any drip or spillage.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and detailed description.

Fig. l of the drawings is a view in side elevation of a rack embodying the invention. The view shows a container in the rack.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the organization shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the organization shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being eliminated or broken away.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tiltable cradle shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the rack in folded condition, without the cradle and container.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, showing a modification in which the trunnion on the cradle is retained in its mounting by a fastening device.

' Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear view of the modification shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modification in which the shelf for supporting a receptacle is in the form of a tray.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of a modified form of container pouring spout.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the spout shown in Fi 9.

. Fig.'11 is a detail in side elevation and on an enlargedscale, showing the toggle-like joint between the two sections of .a folding $17935 brace which forms a part of the rack shown in Figs. 1,, 2, 3, 5, 6 and '7.

The rack shown is composed of a pair of A-form frames or supports, designated as a:

, whole by I. These are rigidly secured in spaced relation toeach other by iron horizontal straps or flat crosbars 2, 3 and 4. Rigidity is securedby the bent-over ends of bars 2 and 3 and by firm riveted connection of bars 2 and 3 to the rear legs 5, 5 and of bar 4 to front legs 6, 6 of the A-form supports.

The legs 5 and 6 of the rack are preferably made of angle iron incorporated into the rack in the manner shown. The ends of bars 2 and 3 are bent to extend perpendicularly to the body-of the bars and are riveted to the rearwardly ex-, tending flanges of legs 5, 5. This construction affords a rigid angular attachment of bars 2, and 3 to legs 5, 5 because any pivoting about aconnecting rivet, so long as the rivet is reasonably tight, will not result in any change in the angle of the bar in the line of its connection to the other A-form frame. However, any such pivoting will be prevented if the flat inner faces of Ears 2 and 3 closely contact the rear edgesof legs.

The legs5, 5 and 6, 6 of the A-frames have their forwardly and rearwardly extending flanges at the apex of the frame cut away as at 1 and 8, so that extending flat portions 9 and lll'of the sidewise extending flangesmay be bent to the configuration shown. The projections 9 and I0. form a fork or crotch 12 to receive the trunnions of a swinging cradle or tiltable container-frame 26, to be hereinafter described. Beneath the crotch l2 astrap hinge is riveted to le s 5-'6, thereby providing a. hinged connection ll between the two legs. v

The hinging at H of the fore and aft. legs 5 and 6 of each of the A-frames, permits the rack to be folded when not in use. When the A- frames are extended for use, the fore and aft legs are braced by folding braces, each of extensible tog-1. gle construction. These braces consist of (links l4, l5 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 11) which, when extended into alinement with each other, form a rigid brace.

Fig. 1 shows the foldable brace extended and Fig. 5 shows it folded. The links I4 andl5 are pivoted together at l6. By reference to Fig, .11 it will be seen that link [4 extends beyond pivot I6 and is provided with conformations which afiord; in cooperation with the conformations of link, [5, an effective stop for the opening move- I ment of the togglaand for retaining. itheltog'gle in extended position. The links M and consist of flat iron bars sufficiently thin to permit indentation on one side that produces a projection or elevation of the surface of the opposite side. Link I4 has a projection l? adjacent the upper edge produced by forging a depression opposite thereto; and link l5 has a recess 53 for reception of projection II, with a resulting elevation IS on the side opposite recess I8. In this way a stop is provided for arresting the links M and I 5 in their extended or alined position; It will be seen that this stop structure is attained from the metal of links I 4 and |5-without weakening them. In the same way a projection'iiil, having a convex spherical surface is provided on link. M

for coaction with a concave spherical depression in link 15. This spherical depression 'is on-the side opposite to spherical protuberance 2i. vIt will be seen that the protuberance 20, together with the recess into which it snaps, forms a suitable latch for-holding the links It and I5 inextended 7 position. The latching hold may be br'oken'rby' the application of moderate upward force to links" M and I5, and thus the rack is readily foldable.

In' pouring liquid or other material from' a rack-supported tiltable container it is desirable that provision be made for conveniently positioni'ngthe-receptacleintowhich the material is to be'poured. For this purpose there is provided a shelf 22, hinged at 24 to the rear legs 5, '5 of the't-wo *A-frames. A forward portion on shelf 22 rests on crossbar 4. The shelf may be hinged to rear legs 5, -5 in any suitable manner, butas shown the shelf is provided with a-pair of projecting studs or pivot pins 24, 24 which extend through holes in the rearwardly extending flanges of legs'5g 5. Shelf'22', as shown, is rectangular and is 'made of sheet metal or other suitable-material in sheetiorm, having peripheral marginal flanges for rigidity and strength.

In-'Figs.1-, 2-arid 3- the-shelf 22- is "illustrated as placed :in the: rack with the flanges depending, so that a free-upper surface is provided on which az'receptacle may. be conveniently placed: andremoved by sliding motion without interference from anymarginal: obstruction. There; are conditionszofuse,xhowever;inwhich it is desirable for thesshelft 22" to..act as: a: catch-pantry intercept liquidcdrippings .or' material scattered in: pouring fromithe' container. For. use as a-catch-pan the shelf-"22 may be; mounted in the rack with the flanges. extendingupwardly,x:in which position it willrbecome-a rimmed tray. Fig. 8 showsthisalternativearrangement, wherein the'shelfe22 is mounted asa tray or catchepan.

:Mentionhas been made of the crotches I2, l2 formed by the projections 9 and ill -of each of me k-frames; these crotches receiving'the trunnions of a. cradle .or'container-frame designated as a r whole by 28. The container-frame 'or swingable' cradle. 26"includes'a stirrup formed of aid-lat: strip or bar .of iron or other suitable material. This strip ornbar has two right angle bends to form side strips 21 and 28 and a bottom strip .729. The stirrup is adapted to embrace the container 58; and to the bottom 29 of the stirrup there isattached by. rivets a crosspiece 30 OII'ZWhiGhT the container rests. Crosspiece 3!].is provided'at' its ends with upstanding V-fianges. 3h; 3| whichprevent the bottom of the container 50'ffronrshifting forwardly or backwardly in the cradle. -A crossbar3'2 is hinged: at 33ito the top ofiside strip 2'l and is-engageable with theupper end-.of stirrup side 28 betweengpron gs134, 34.

4 Each edge of bar 32 is notched as at 35, and the notches interlock with prongs 34, 34, This holds the upper end of stirrup side 28 against any tendency to shift its position with respect to the upper end of stirrup side 21. Crossbar 32 is releasably secured in engagement with side 28 by a latch 36 of spring metal, This latch is riveted at 36a, 36a to stirrup side 28; and the free end of the latch is formed as a thumb piece 36b, by means of which the latch may be conveniently retracted "from'engagement With the end of crossbar 32.

To prevent the top of container 50 from shifting forwardly or backwardly in the cradle, the crossbar 32 is provided with transverse holding pieces 31, 3'! having depending lips which engage the container fore and aft.

The parts just described form a cradle or container frame 26 for holding the container 50 in the'fold'able rack 50 that the container may be tilted to pour out its contents. To that end the stirrup side bars 2? and 28'have secured thereon trunnions 3B, 38; and cr0ssbar'32 is made with a portion 39 upwardly displaced to form a handhold. The cradle 26 is mounted in the rack by placing it therein with trunnions 38, 38 resting in the crotches l2, l2, as isbest seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In Figs. 6 and 7 there is shown an optional additional feature, for securing the trunnions in their crotches against accidental displacement. Each of the A-frame legs 5, '5 may be provided with a shouldered stationary pin 4| held in place by a nut i l. Swingably mounted on each such pin ll is a resilient hook member 40, engageable by snap action with one of the cradle. trunnions, as is shown in Figs. 6 and '7. When'retainer hooks 40 are used, the cradle trunnions 38,138 are of course made long enough to receive the hooks, as is indicated in Fig. '7.

The cradle 25 has dimensions adapting: mm the particular container to be suspended therein, and the container may be of any suitable. commercial type. The container 50. shownris. a familiar type of rectangular metal can, .thetop of which is customarily provided with' anz'upstanding pouring thimble,.normally.closed with a screw cap. For dispensing we'preferto replace the screw cap with a funnel-shaped pouring spout such as 42. This spout is threaded at the bottom to screw onto the container.thimble,xto whichit is sealed by a conventional gasket ring (not shown). When dispensing is not in progress the pouring spout may be closed by a suitable cork, wooden stopper or the like 43. Preferably the stopper is held captive to the rack by a chain, as shown.

The spout 42 being funnel-shaped, it pours correctly regardless of. the rotative position it. assumes when screwed home onto the container thimble. In Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a modified pouring. spout at which is so corrugated as to facilitate the pouring of narrow or small streams,- The corrugations 43' being close together, one .of them can readily be brought to correct pouring position when the .spout is screwed home on the container thimble.

Eitherspout 42 or spout42' may also be used as a funnel for refilling the container. For most usages, however, the container 59 will be 'removed from the cradle 26 when the container is emptyand be replaced by a full container. "In making such replacement, the pouring spout," or 42, will be transferred to thefullcontainer.

In compliance with the patentstatutes wezhave disclosed the .best: form in which we have 1 contemplated applying our invention. It will be realized, however, that the disclosure is illustrative and not limiting.

, What is claimed is? 1. A tiltable container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-frames, each including front and back legs, hingedly connected together at the top, extensions from the legs forming a crotch above the hinged connection, folding means beneath the hinged connection for bracing the legs in open position, and a spring latch engageable with a trunnion positioned in the crotch; crossbars connecting the front legs and connecting the back legs of the two A-frames and rigidly securing the A-frames together in spaced relation; a tray pivotally attached to the back legs of the A- frames, said tray resting on a crossbar attached to the front legs of the two A-frames; and a tiltable container frame having trunnions positioned in said crotches, said trunnions being detachably engaged by said spring latches and thereby secured in said crotches.

2. A tiltable container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-frames, each including front and back legs, hingedly connected together at the top, extensions from the legs forming a crotch above the hinged connection, and folding means beneath the hinged connection for bracing the legs in open position, crossbars connecting the front legs and connecting the back legs of the two A-frames and rigidly securing the A-frames together in spaced relation; a tray pivotally attached to the back legs of the A-frames, said tray resting on a crossbar attached to the front legs of the two A-frames; and a tiltable container frame having trunnions positioned in said crotches.

3. A tiltable container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-frames, each including front and back legs hingedly connected together at the top, extensions from the legs forming a crotch above the hinged connection, retainer means cooperable with a trunnion positioned in the crotch, and a pair of toggle links hingedly connected to the front and back legs and operable in extended position to brace the legs in open position; crossbars connecting the front legs and connecting the back legs of the two A-frames and rigidly securing the A-frames together in spaced relation; a shelf pivotally attached to the back legs of the A-frames, said shelf resting on a crossbar attached to the front legs of the two A-frames; and a tiltable container-holding cradle having trunnions positioned in said crotches, said trunnions being removably retained by said retainer means.

4. A tiltable container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-frames, each including front and back legs hingedly connected together at the top, extensions from the legs forming a crotch above the hinged connection, and a pair of toggle links hingedly connected to the front and back legs and operable in extended position to brace the legs in open position; c-rossbars connecting the front legs and connecting the back legs of the two A-frames and rigidly securing the A-frames together in spaced relation; a shelf pivotally attached to the back legs of the A-frames, said shelf resting on a crossbar attached to the front legs of the two A-frames; and a tiltable container-holding cradle having trunnions positioned in said crotches.

5. A tiltable container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-fr'ames secured in spaced relation and having crotches at their apexes; a containerreceiving cradle having trunnions positioned in 6. said crotches, said cradle having crossed supporting members to lie beneath the bottom of the container, having a hinged bar to overlie the container, and having a latch for securing said bar in closed position; a crossbar connecting two corresponding legs of the two A-frames, and a folding shelf pivotally attached to the other corresponding legs of the two A-frames, said shelf resting on said crossbar and being positioned to support a receptacle for receiving material poured from a container mounted in said tiltable cradle.

6. A tiltable container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-frames secured in spaced relation and having crotches at their apexes; a containerreceiving cradle having trunnions positioned in said crotches, said cradle having supporting means to lie beneath the bottom of the container, and having a bar to overlie the container, said bar having a portion bent to form a handle for tilting the container; a crossbar connecting two corresponding legs of the two A-frames, and a folding shelf pivotally attached to the other corresponding legs of the two A-frames, said shelf resting on said crossbar and being positioned to support a receptacle for receiving material poured from a container mounted in said tiltable cradle.

7. A cradle for tiltably supporting a container, comprising: a stirrup having means for positioning the bottom of a container therein and having side bars for extending upwardly alon the container; a top crossbar hingedly connected to the upper end of one of said side bars and coacting with the upper end or the opposite side bar to retain a container in said stirrup, said top crossbar having elements extending laterally and downwardly for engaging the upper portion of a container and restraining movement thereof; a spring latch for holding said top crossbar in closed position, said top crossbar having a portion bent to form a handhold for manipulating said cradle; and trunnions on said side bars substantially above the middle thereof, whereby said cradle may be swingably suspended.

8. A tiltable-container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-frames, each formed of angle irons hinged together at one end and braceable in divergence from each other by toggle bars in alinement with each other, each of said angle irons having a portion cut away to leave a flat part at its hinged end parallel with the axis of the hinge, the adjacent flat parts diverging from each other to form a crotch, said pair of A-frames being rigidly secured to each other in laterally spaced relation; a foldable shelf hinged to the rear angle irons of said A-frames and resting horizontally on a member attached to the front of said A-frames; and a tiltable container-frame having trunnions resting in said crotches.

9. A tiltable container rack, comprising: a pair of foldable A-frames secured in spaced relation and having crotches at their apexes; a containerreceiving cradle having trunnions positioned in said crotches and having portions for engaging a container and a shelf pivotall attached to twocorresponding legs of the A-irames and adapted to be supported by the other two corresponding legs in a substantially level position to support a receptacle for receiving material poured from a container mounted in said tiltable cradle.

FERDINAND V. SMOLDEREN. JOHN P. CODY.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Vaughan Aug. 18, 1885 Rawson July 3, 1900 Smith Jan. 30, 1906 10 Wall Feb. 27, 1912 Hutchison Oct. 21, 1913 Berger June 27, 1916 Number Number 

